Percussion-fuse.



No. 785,540. PUBMED MAR. 21, 1905. n. J.' GARTWRIGHT-1 PERGUss'IoN FUSE.' APPLICATION FILED AUG.19. 1903.

ai 9 L v-@W y/Y@ ome'y Patented Menen 21,1905,

PATN QFFifE# .HALF .To WALTER s.wA1T ,ioF NEWTON, iviAsSAoHUSErTS.. w

` PEnoussloN-Fusr.

-srnorsioarion' renting part b f Leners patear No. 785,540, dated Maren 21,- 19o5. L

-. 'Appiicatinined August 19,1903. Seriniiaivaosz.'

To 'all4 10h/011.7, it tay concern;

4Be it lknown that I,.DAvID J. CR'rWRiGnT,

'a citizen of the United States, residing at'I-Iull,

' in the county of Plymouth and State'ofIl/I-assachusetts, have invented certain. new and use- .fu,l Improvements in PercussionfFuses', of which the following is aspecification, reference b ing had therein to theacconipanyingdraw- The present invention has for its object to' provide a vsafety-fuse for explosive projectil s,

which-while it will not' be sensibly alfect d' by shocks or blows incident to handling orf transportation of theprojectilesso that pre# mature or accidental dischargesl ofthe same are entirely eliminated, yet will automatically be armed or placedin condition forv excplodin'g or detonating the primer-capfupon the discharge of the projectilefrom agun,

the .,fuse, furthermore, being so constructed that it will operateto effect the explosion of.

the primer or percussion cap andthe ignition' of .the projectile charge in "Whatever posi?. tion or at whatever anglethe projectile may strike. .v

The fuse which I have invented comprises as its essential features a detonating--plungerv which is longitudinally movable within ythev fuse-case andgprovidedwith a ring-,pinto strike the percussion-cap, a locking device which normally holds the detonatingfplunger 'in its inactive orsafe position, securing it y against all accidental orpremature movement, and means for imparting to Said detonating#v plunger after the lockingdevice has released it a longitudinal striking movement, nomatter at what angle the'brojectile maystrike.

.In order lthat the in-vention may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art, 'I' have illustrated in -the accompanying drawingsto which reference will be made hereinafter, sev-l eral embodiments of my invention. l

In said drawings, 'Figure 1 is' a longitudinal sectional view of a vf use made in accordance with Ymy invention. verse sectionalview .of the fuse on line 22,'. Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating modilications of the` fuse shown in Fig.1 1.

made hereinafter.

Fig.' 2 isa transf' lockingvdevice, to which reference will Vbe Figs. i'and 6 are-.detailviewsjol'I the plungervReferringto the vdrawings numerals; l1

chamber 4-and percussion member 3. screwthreaded Within the bore of the fuse-case. 1

Mounted' within the fuse-case in rear of the y.designates the fuse-casse, whichmaybe of f. 'any suitable size and construction toadapt it .for insertion in the projectile.' Said casing `fuse-magazine2 is the detonatingplunger 5, having' the usual firing-point and being'pro-l vided. with a groove or recess 6, which when the parts are inthe 'positiongshown in Fig.I 1 4 registers with a groove or recess 7 .in the int ner 'wall of .the fuse-case.

Seated Within, the groove 7 ofthe fuse-case is an annular s tripor divided ring 8, having l inwardly-projecting lugs 9, vwhich engage the groove in the plunger. and normally hold it, in the .position shown in Fig. 1, locked to the fuse -case against Ilongitudinalmovementf` Said strip 8 is made of'steel or'other Suitable normal position iSth'e 'contracted position,

shownin full linesfin Fig. 2 andy in 'Fig 5.)' with one end lapped upon the other. Inthis I position the ann-ularstrip 8 'is not under tension, but is in normal condition, and, as shown in Figs. V1 and 2, it isnt-less diameterfthan the diameter of the groove 7 inthe linner'v'vall- 'material and isv set in` making, so that its..

of the fuse-.body,so thatv room is provided for expansion of the annular strip 8. A

. The rear end of the plunger .5 is made con- .l

icalj-'as shown, and isseated in af'conical.

pocket Vformed in the forward end of afnamthe rear wall of the fuse-casel 1, the rearend of the .hammer -block '10 .-beingjpreferably *mer-block 1 0, preferably cylindricalincross'-., section, interposed betweenthe plunger 5 andl construction of hammer-block and-its manner of v.mounting within the fuse-case;I is" preferable for the reason that a. greater transversel 'movement of the cylindrical hammer-block 6o l verse movement of the hammer-block will be and a correspondingly increased longitudinal movement of the detonatingplunger is secured without having to so reduce the weight of the hammer-block as to destroy the effectiveness of its blow. It will be apparent, also, that the conical connection between the detonating-plunger andthe hammer will have the effect of transmitting the blow of ,the hammer toward the center or longitudinal axis of the .detonating-plunger and give a direct longitudinal movement to the plunger, so thatv danger of tilting and binding of the plunger within the fuse-case under the blow of thehammer-block, which tilting and binding is Ilikely to occur when .the blow of the hammer is delivered away from the centeror near-the periphery of the plunger, is entirely obviated. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. l it will be seen that the plunger is securely locked by the normally contracted strip 8 against movement longitudinally of the fusechamber and that ordinary'handling or trans-f portation of the explosive projectile or shocks incidental to falling from a height will not affect the locking device which securesthe plun'A ger. in safe position lor .causel longitudinal movement of the plunger. l When the projectile is discharged from the gun, however, the rapid centrifugal motion of the same will cause the annular strip 8 to'expand to the position shown in Fig. 6 and there be held, the normally lapped ends of the locking-ring being thrown to the position 'shown in Fig. 6, with'their ends abutting and the strip under tension.

. ent, hold the tensionedjl strip locked in its exonating charge 2; but if the projectile strike at right angles to thev line of 4movement of. the plunger' no longitudinal movement of the plunger would ordinarily occur. y The hammer-blockl 10, with which my fuse is provided,

will, however, move the plunger 5 forward' f no matter at what angle the projectile may strike, for it isl apparent that upon the. strik? ing ofthe projectile no matter at what angle the hammerfblock 10' will be thrown tofone side and, owingto the conical engagement'of the hammer-block 10 and the plunger 5, transconverted into longitudinal tiring movement of the"`plunger 5. y

Inorder to guard against all possibility of premature longitudinal movement of the freed The abutting end swill, it is appar- This expansion of the aufA .It isapparent that if4 the shell or projectile plunger 5 after the locking-strip 8 has expanded,i the fuse has been armed and before striking of the projectile a light spring 12 may be inserted hetweenthe fuse-magazine, 2 and the forward end of the plunger 5, this spring 12 being of sufficient strength .to hold the plunger 5 away fromv the primer 3 by counteracting the tendency of the plunger to creep forward during the iiight of the shell, but yielding under the force imparted to thel plunger upon impact of. the projectile.

IIn the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 the grooves in the fuse-body and in the plunger are dispensed with andthe Alockingstrip is supported on a nipple 18, carried by the fuse-magazine, the plunger 15 being reduced at its forward end to give clearance for the lugs ofthe locking-strip when it is expanded and permit longitudinal movement of the plunger. In this construction yof the fuse a ball-thrust-bearing engagement is made be.-

-tween the rear of the hammer-block and the rear wallv of the fuse-case in place ofthe coni- .y

cal bearing shown in Fig. 1, the eifectof both of these constructions being to permita greater movement of the forward end ofthe hammerblock than. of the rear end, lthis' engagement being,in.effect,a hinged-joint engagement,but one which will not jam or interfere with 'the'v movement of the hammer-block. Y.

In the form illustrated in Fig.' 4 the locking-strip' instead ofjoeing mounted 4upon a nipple on the primer-disk, as-in Fig. 3, is supported directlyfuponthe elongated firing-pin 17 of the plunger and in its normal position bears against the en d of the nipple 18, pro

jecting rearwardly from the primer-disk, the

IOC

annular strip when expanded by centrifugal n action spreading beyond the 'circumference of the nipple 18, withdrawingthe lugs and freeing the plunger. I'

- In the constructionlast describedFig. 4, the hammer-block 19-has coned pockets at each end, which engage, respectively, the

coned rear end'of the'plungerand a coned stud v 20, projecting inwardly from the rearwall of' the fuse.- case. With this construction the,l hammer-block 19 moves bodily across the longitudinal axi's'of the plungerv when the projectile strikes instead of swinging on a joint or hinge, as in' the'constr'uctions hereinbefore described, in which the knife-edge orball-con nection thrust-bearing is used. i

While .l have shown and described particular constructions of my invention Yand those thel best known to me, it is apparent that these constructions are capable of considerable variation within .the skill of the mechanician without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not, therefore, limit my invention to any of the details vshown and described, except in so far as I am restricted by the terms of the appended claims.

I' claim as my invention-j;-

1. A fuse for explosive proiectiles'comprisment, said strip being expansible under centrifugal action 'to release said detonating means. 'l 3. Afuse for explosive projectiles comprising la fuse-case; a percussionmember; means for detonating said percussion member; .and a one-piece annular locking-strip to lock said detonating means in safe position, said stripJ being expansible under centrifugal action to lrelease said detonating means.

4. A fu'se for explosive projectiles'comprisf ing'a fuse-case; a percussion member; longitudinally-movable means for detonating said percussion member; and a one-piece annular locking-strip to lock said detonatingmeansV against longitudinal movement, said strip be.-

ing expansible under centrifugal acntion'to re- I lease said detonating means.

5'. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; means 4'for detonating said percussion member; and a one-piece annular locking-strip to -loclrsaid detona'ting means 'in'safe position, said strip 'beingexpans'ible under centrifugal action to distendd position to release sa'ddetonating means, and in which distend'ed osition it is itself locked against contraction.

6. A fuse for explosive projectiles 'com 'prisving a fuse-case; a percussion member; longitudinally-inovable means for detonating said percussion member;.and a one-piece annular l A combination with a fuse-case; ofa percussion locking-stripto lock saiddetonating means against longitudinal movement, said strip being expansible, under centrifugal actiom to distended positionto release said detonating means, and iniwhich distended position it is. .itself locked 'against contraction.

7 Afuseiorexplo'sive projectiles,compris 'ing afuse-case; a percussion member; means for detonatingsaid percussion member; anda one-piece annular locking-strip, normally cony 4tracted so ,that its ends overlap, to lock said detonating means in" safe-position, said-strip being expansible under centrifugal action to a position with its `ends' abutting and in lockedl engagement to release said detonatingmeans.

8. `A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; longitudinally-movable means for detonating said percussion member; and af one-piece annular locking-strip, normally contracted so that its ends overlap, to` lock saidv detonating means against longitudinal movement, said strip b eing expansible under centrifugal action to a f l Ibla position withits ends abuttingand in locked r engagement to release said detonati'ng means.

9. A fuse for explosive projectiles compris- Iinga'tfuse-case; a percussion member; a longitudinally-movable plunger to de-tonate said" percussion member havingagrooveor recess i l formed therein; and acne-piece annular lock-v ing-strip engaging the groove in said plunger to lock the same normally7 against longitudinalmovement, said strip beiiigexpansible under centrifugal action to release said plunger;

isv

l' lO. A fuse forexplesive `projectiles comprising a fusecase having an annular groove 4or recess formed in its inner wall; a percus-. sion member; a longitudinally-movable-plun'- vger to detonateV said percussion member .hav-

` :ing an annular groove or recessiormedtherein and adapted'to register with' the groove or .recess in the inner wall of the fuse-case; and

an annular locking-strip engaging. the groove in said plunger to lock the saine normally against longitudinal movement, said stripibeing expansible under centrifugal action within the groove of the"fusecase to release said plunger.

" 11,' A fuse for explosive= projectiles 'Icomprising a lfuse-case lhaving an annular recess or groove formed in its inner .wall; apercussion member; a longitudinally-movable pluni i ger tor cletonatingsaidl percussion vmember i having an'annular groove or recess formed therein and .adapted tofegister with the groovevor recess 'in the innenwallof said fuse-'case; andan annular locking-strip having inwardlyprojecting' lugs to engage the groove ins'aid plunger and locklth'e same normally yagainst longitudinal movement, saidstrip'. being expansible under centrifugal action i within'the groove inthe fuse-case to withdraw said lock-` ing-lugsand release 'saidplun'g'er ros '12." Ina -vfuse, for'exp-losiv'e projectiles, Vthe I'memberg'a loirgitudinally-movableI plunger for A.

detonating said. percussion member; .means forlocking said d'etonating-plunger, normal-ly in safe position; andv a hammer-'block suspend ed between the rear'end of. said d etonating-l plunger and ahinged bearing at tli'e-r'ear end oi' the fuse-case, whereby the forward' endof saidhammer-block is free to'rnove transversely of the fuse-chamber and impart aV longi'tud i-'. --Iial' movement to said detonating-pl enger."`

13. yIn a vfuse for 'explosive projectiles; the

lcombination with a fuse-ca e; of a 'percussion member; a longitudinally-'movable plunger for l detonating said percussion member having a coned rear end; nieans'ior locking said plunl yger normally in safe positioman'd a lhammerblock engaging the coned end of. said plunger IIO ' prising a one-piece divided annular' v,strip ex- VlAvl'irising a one-piece divided annular locking- -strp normally contracted With'its ends lapped uponeach other, but expansible to distended posi-tionw'ith its ends abutting and in locked engagement, said strip having radial locking- 18. In a fuse for explosive projectiles, the combination with a fuse-case; of a percussion -v piece .annular locking-strip for locking said .Atrifugal action to distended 4position with its prising a one-piece divided annular'istrvi'pexz" pansible under centrifugal. action and having radially-puojectmg locking-lugs.

'the rear end ofl said detonating-plunger and fthe rear Wall ot' the fuse-case, said hammer- -blook'bei'ng transversely movable to impart a of thefuse-case and impart longitudinal movel ments to said detonating-plunger.

V 14'. Loclungmeans for safety-fuses com-v pansible under centrifugal action.

15. Locking means for safety-fuses comprising acne-piece divided annular strip normallvv contracted and having its ends lapped uponeacl'i other, but expansible under cenen-ds abut-ting and in locked engagement. 16. Lociklng means for safety-fuses com- 17. Locking means for safety-fuses commember; a longitudinally-movable plunger for detonatin'g'sald percussion member; a oneplunger normally in safe position; and a cylindrical hammer-block suspended between longitudinal movement to the said detonatngplunger.

' 19. In a Jfuse for explosive projectiles, the combination with a fuse-case; of a percussion member; a long ,ritudinallymovable plunger Afor detonating said percussion member having a coned rear end, a one-piece annular lock-4 ying-strip 'for locking said detonating-plunger normally in safe position; and a hammer-block engaging the coned end of said plunger and movabletransversely of the fuse-chamber, i

mer-block will impart a'longitudinal movement to said plunger.

- whereby transverse movements of said harn 20. In a fuse for'explosive projectiles-the l l combination with a fuse-case; of a percussion member; a longitudinallymovableplunger for detonating said percussion member having aconed rear' end; a one-piece annular'lock.- ing-strip for locking said detonating-plunger normally in safe positiomand a hammeriblock suspended between the conical "rear end of. 

